CNA work was the hardest thing I've ever done but I'm glad I experienced it
I have a bachelor's in information systems and 8 years of IT experience. Last April I lost my job and was struggling to find a new one. I got a few interviews but no offers. Fearing I'd never be able to re-enter the industry as my resume gap grew longer, I signed up for CNA school so I could at least feed myself after unemployment ran out. My teacher was wonderful and I did well on classwork, but spending time in clinicals made me realize I wasn't cut out for it. I stuck it out, got my license, and went to work for an LTC. I enjoyed working with most residents, but I cried every day and was paralyzed with anxiety before doing pretty much anything involving patient care. The only thing I actually liked about it was the potential flexibility in shifts. I applied for nursing school and got one of the highest TEAS scores of all the applicants, but deep down I knew it wasn't for me. I am autistic with poor motor skills and I dreaded the idea that I would be responsible for other people's lives, with mistakes being scrutinized and having the potential to destroy my career or even land me in legal trouble.
Fortunately, after a year out of the tech market, I applied on a whim to an IT job for a healthcare system. I wasn't hopeful since I'd been disappointed so many times before, but I got an interview. I didn't get that job, either. But then the hiring manager reached out saying I had been the runner-up and they had another position they'd offer me without having to interview again. 10:30am - 7pm M-F, 160 hours of PTO a year, and fully remote. I believe working as a CNA helped me because it prevented me from having a very long unemployment gap and they liked that I understood the struggles someone in patient care has with technology.
I hated being a CNA but I do think it made me more well-rounded, resilient, and grateful for what I have.